The Southeast is home to more than two dozen turtle species, and while the various species all have in common some form of the characteristic bony shell known as the carapace, they otherwise represent a wide natural diversity. Our native turtles come in a range of shapes and sizes: the largest (Leatherback Sea Turtle, up to six feet in length) and smallest (Bog Turtle, less than five inches long) species known in North America are found here. Turtles are long-lived creatures, with some species enjoying life expectancies of up to 200 years, so it’s not surprising that they’re in no hurry to get from Point A to Point B. Turtles are found in just about every type of environment, from forests to coastlands and, yes, in freshwater lakes and streams.
Freshwater turtles typically move slowly over land but are much faster in the water, aided by their webbed "toes;" the lighter, streamlined soft-shell turtle species are especially quick swimmers. Most turtles encountered in and around our lakes and streams are from the emydidae family, which includes Pond, Basking, and Box Turtles; although Box Turtles are terrestrial, they tend to live near water bodies, and are abundantly represented in our region.
One of the largest freshwater turtle species in the world is the Alligator Snapping Turtle (pictured here), which dwells exclusively in the Southeastern U.S. and has been recorded at weights of over 300 lbs. Generally speaking, turtles are non-aggressive animals that pose absolutely no threat to humans, but the Alligator Snapping Turtle and its more common Snapping Turtle cousins do have powerful jaws and sharp beaks and should be approached with caution.
Turtles are part of the natural aquatic ecosystem and do not jeopardize fish populations or the overall health of a lake; in fact, their consumption of dead fish may be beneficial. Aquatic turtles are sometimes bait-eating nuisances to fishermen and are temptingly easy to trap. Non-protected turtle species may be legally trapped and removed; however, many aquatic turtle species are threatened or endangered and as such are protected by state and/or federal law, so seek professional guidance before attempting to remove turtles for any reason.
